March 15th, 2015

Pax Christi Metro New York invites you to its 33rd consecutive Good Friday Way of the Cross as a way to shine God’s light on a sometimes dark and sinful city and world. Commemorating Jesus’suffering in His own life and in the lives of people throughout the world today, hundreds process together, praying for changes in ourselves and in society. Concluding with a 15th station, we are reminded that we are a Resurrection people in a Good Friday world. The walk begins at 8:30am on April 3rd at 47th Street between First and Second Avenues, proceeds along 42nd Street and ends on 42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues around noon. For more information, please contact Pax Christi Metro NY at 212-420-0250 or info@nypaxchristi.org.

Fr. GERARD DiSENSO

Please join us as we welcome Fr. Gerard DiSenso, a retired priest of the New York Archdiocese, for two evenings of discussions about the English Jesuit Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. The discussion will take place in the Rectory on Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 pm. See you there.

CRS RICE BOWL—LENT 2015

This season of Lent, Blessed Sacrament parish is participating in Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl as a way of enhancing our Lenten journey. It is also a way for us to live out Pope Francis’ call to end world hunger. CRS Rice Bowl invites Catholics to live in solidarity with our poorest and most vulnerable brothers and sisters through the Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. 870 million people suffer from hunger. Of this 98% live in the developing world.

If you don’t have a Rice Bowl pick one up at the back of the church and take a flyer for more information.

What you give up for Lent changes lives.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

On Saturday, March 28th, we will have the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at the 12:10pm Mass. All who feel the need for God’s healing power in their lives are invited to take part.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Each Friday in Lent we have Stations of the cross after the 12:10pm and 5:30pm Masses

LENTEN SIMPLE SUPPERS

The Spirit Sunday and Young Adults groups are pleased to co-sponsor this year’s Lenten Simple Suppers. Please join us during the 5 Wednesdays during lent: 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, and 3/25, for prayer , meditation, and a supper of soup, salad, and bread. The evenings are 7PM-8:15PM in the rectory dining room and are a wonderful way to enrich your Lenten experience. For all questioins, please call John Gasdaska at 646-345-7350. We hope to see you there.

COLLECTION

Our collection for March 8th was $10,338.– And through ParishPay: $1,891.– for a total of $12,229.– We are grateful for your support.

VISITING FRIENDS PROGRAM

Our new Visiting Friends Program is up and running with great success. Volunteers are visiting homebound people in the neighborhood, bringing the comfort of companionship and social interaction. Flyers are available in the back of the church with information on the program. If you know of someone (friend, relative or neighbor) who might benefit from and welcome a visitor, please email us at joyj.blessed.sacrament@aol.com.–be sure to put “Visiting Friends Program” in the subject box. You can also leave the information at the Rectory.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES COLLECTION

Amen,I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me (Mt 25:40).

Today we are reminded of the gospel message to love all our brothers and sisters around the world and treat them with respect. The Catholic Relief Services Collection sees Jesus in victims of human trafficking, those who see to change unjust laws, and those who need pastoral care and humanitarian assistance across the globe How will you help Jesus in disguise?

Please be generous in today’s Collection.

JOYJ INITIATIVE—Easter Egg Lenten Project

JoyJ is once again sponsoring an Easter Egg Lenten Project. On March 28th a basket of eggs will be placed on the Blessed Mother’s altar on the right side of the church. Inside each egg are requests for t-shirts, toothpaste, gift cards, socks, wipes, protein fruit bars, etc. We ask that gift cards not exceed $10.00 per card. Donations will be collected on Saturday, April 11th and Sunday, April 12th. Many thanks for your continued generosity.

FOOD FOR FAMILIES COLLECTION

JUST A REMINDER: NEXT WEEKEND is our monthly non-perishable grocery collection for FOOD FOR FAMILIES.

(In order to provide the highest quality service to those who seek our help, we may only accept freshly bought, unopened non-perishable items. If this is not convenient, we also accept monetary donations.)

SPECIAL NEEDS MASS AT BLESSED SACRAMENT

You are invited! Please join us today, Sunday, March 15th for a monthly Special Needs Mass, welcoming families with loved ones on the autism spectrum and other challenging behaviors. All family members are invited!

The Blessed Sacrament Social Action Committee invites concerened Parishioners to an information session on The New Immigration Reform. Want more information? Interested to know if you’re qualified? Have questions? Need help with your application? Join us for Coffee Hour on March 22, 2015 at 12:00pm, Blessed Sacrament Rectory If you would like to come please RSVP and let us know if you want to be part of our mailing list. Please email: blessac.immiginfo@gmail.com *Any personal information will be kept confidential